SERGEANT ERIC M. HOLKE of the California National Guard, Riverside, California died on July 15th 2007 while serving our nation in Iraq. He grew up in Riverside and Crestline. He graduated from Rim of the World High School in 1995. Eric was interested in helping children and becoming a teacher or a documentary producer. Eric had been enrolled in college and worked as a Teacher's Assistant for the Riverside County Office of Education. He worked with autistic children in one of the Special Needs Programs, before this deployment.
Eric had served two previous tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Eric had been discharged after his second tour due to an injury he had received after returning from Iraq. Eric dedicated himself to get medically cleared to reenlist again in the California National Guard. He insisted that he needed to provide a good life for his new family and to serve his country. Eric was called up in December of 2006 to serve his country once again in Iraq.
While traveling in Iraq, his Humvee swerved to avoid hitting an Iraqi and the vehicle overturning, killing Eric. He is survived by his wife Cassidhe and son Steven, a very large family which includes but is not limited to; His Parents Jack Holke and Nancy Holscher, his sister Erin, his Grandmother Maggie, Uncle Chris and Aunt Monika Holke, their children Shaun and Sabrina and their spouses, Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron Hart and their children Danny and Jeremy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Debbie Holke and their children Ryan, Tyler and Jacob, along with the other family members of the Holke/Hart Clan.
In addition, he is remembered by a circle of friends whose size and devotion speak to the positive and lasting impact he has made in a life so short. Among, but not limited to, these friends are, Ken & Becky, Jake & Robin, Papa Bean, Jenny, Craig & Lori, Stewart & Janet, Eytan, Jim C, Laura & Shawn, Art and many, many more.
Those wishing to make a donation to the family or send condolences may do so by contacting the family's Casualty Officer, Sgt 1st Class Ronald Mays at March Air Reserve Base at 951-656-2011.
Services were held at 1100 on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Evans-Brown Mortuary in Sun City, California.
Eric was laid to his final rest in the Riverside Veterans Cemetery next to a sapling tree. There are those in life whose mere existence makes our own better in ways that we cannot quantify or point to. It is not any specific thing they did, but merely the act of being themselves that was the gift they gave us. We know it, deeply and painfully when they are gone. Eric M. Holke was one of those rare souls. The hole in our lives his death has caused will never be completely filled, for only he would fit there.
From those that loved him:
"I knew of Eric through the A/V Department at Rim High. He was a wonderful person. He will always be missed. The last time I saw him was when I was working in a class for the Riverside County Office of Education. He was wonderful with the kids. He will Rest In Peace forever. I also want to encourage everyone to continue to pray for all those still over there in Iraq." ~~~ Allen
"Eric was one of my very best friends. To those that knew him best he was "Gunter". There were few men in the world with a bigger heart or a stronger loyalty for his friends. We miss you Gunnitar." ~~~ Kendra
"I met Holke for the first time in Camp Shelby, MS in March 2007 when we were first mobilizing to go to Iraq. He was always around people and was a good leader by taking care of the people around him. He didn't complain, he just got his mission, and got it done. He was a dependable guy, and was someone you could confide in. When I got the radio traffic of what had occured on the road in Tallil, my heart sank. We felt that loss instantly, since it was our first day of operations in Iraq and our first fatality. It was an instant "wake up" call for all of us . I keep his picture near me at work to remind myself of who i'm REALLY working for, my fellow soldiers and brothers in arms." ~~~ Jimmy Rebossio
Please visit Eric's pages on:
MySpace
FaceBook
Rim of the World Blue Star Moms Memoriam page
and Legacy's online guestbook.
Eric had served two previous tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Eric had been discharged after his second tour due to an injury he had received after returning from Iraq. Eric dedicated himself to get medically cleared to reenlist again in the California National Guard. He insisted that he needed to provide a good life for his new family and to serve his country. Eric was called up in December of 2006 to serve his country once again in Iraq.
While traveling in Iraq, his Humvee swerved to avoid hitting an Iraqi and the vehicle overturning, killing Eric. He is survived by his wife Cassidhe and son Steven, a very large family which includes but is not limited to; His Parents Jack Holke and Nancy Holscher, his sister Erin, his Grandmother Maggie, Uncle Chris and Aunt Monika Holke, their children Shaun and Sabrina and their spouses, Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron Hart and their children Danny and Jeremy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Debbie Holke and their children Ryan, Tyler and Jacob, along with the other family members of the Holke/Hart Clan.
In addition, he is remembered by a circle of friends whose size and devotion speak to the positive and lasting impact he has made in a life so short. Among, but not limited to, these friends are, Ken & Becky, Jake & Robin, Papa Bean, Jenny, Craig & Lori, Stewart & Janet, Eytan, Jim C, Laura & Shawn, Art and many, many more.
Those wishing to make a donation to the family or send condolences may do so by contacting the family's Casualty Officer, Sgt 1st Class Ronald Mays at March Air Reserve Base at 951-656-2011.
Services were held at 1100 on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Evans-Brown Mortuary in Sun City, California.
Eric was laid to his final rest in the Riverside Veterans Cemetery next to a sapling tree. There are those in life whose mere existence makes our own better in ways that we cannot quantify or point to. It is not any specific thing they did, but merely the act of being themselves that was the gift they gave us. We know it, deeply and painfully when they are gone. Eric M. Holke was one of those rare souls. The hole in our lives his death has caused will never be completely filled, for only he would fit there.
From those that loved him:
"I knew of Eric through the A/V Department at Rim High. He was a wonderful person. He will always be missed. The last time I saw him was when I was working in a class for the Riverside County Office of Education. He was wonderful with the kids. He will Rest In Peace forever. I also want to encourage everyone to continue to pray for all those still over there in Iraq." ~~~ Allen
"Eric was one of my very best friends. To those that knew him best he was "Gunter". There were few men in the world with a bigger heart or a stronger loyalty for his friends. We miss you Gunnitar." ~~~ Kendra
"I met Holke for the first time in Camp Shelby, MS in March 2007 when we were first mobilizing to go to Iraq. He was always around people and was a good leader by taking care of the people around him. He didn't complain, he just got his mission, and got it done. He was a dependable guy, and was someone you could confide in. When I got the radio traffic of what had occured on the road in Tallil, my heart sank. We felt that loss instantly, since it was our first day of operations in Iraq and our first fatality. It was an instant "wake up" call for all of us . I keep his picture near me at work to remind myself of who i'm REALLY working for, my fellow soldiers and brothers in arms." ~~~ Jimmy Rebossio
Please visit Eric's pages on:
MySpace
Rim of the World Blue Star Moms Memoriam page
and Legacy's online guestbook.
SERGEANT ERIC M. HOLKE of the California National Guard, Riverside, California died on July 15th 2007 while serving our nation in Iraq. He grew up in Riverside and Crestline. He graduated from Rim of the World High School in 1995. Eric was interested in helping children and becoming a teacher or a documentary producer. Eric had been enrolled in college and worked as a Teacher's Assistant for the Riverside County Office of Education. He worked with autistic children in one of the Special Needs Programs, before this deployment.
Eric had served two previous tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Eric had been discharged after his second tour due to an injury he had received after returning from Iraq. Eric dedicated himself to get medically cleared to reenlist again in the California National Guard. He insisted that he needed to provide a good life for his new family and to serve his country. Eric was called up in December of 2006 to serve his country once again in Iraq.
While traveling in Iraq, his Humvee swerved to avoid hitting an Iraqi and the vehicle overturning, killing Eric. He is survived by his wife Cassidhe and son Steven, a very large family which includes but is not limited to; His Parents Jack Holke and Nancy Holscher, his sister Erin, his Grandmother Maggie, Uncle Chris and Aunt Monika Holke, their children Shaun and Sabrina and their spouses, Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron Hart and their children Danny and Jeremy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Debbie Holke and their children Ryan, Tyler and Jacob, along with the other family members of the Holke/Hart Clan.
In addition, he is remembered by a circle of friends whose size and devotion speak to the positive and lasting impact he has made in a life so short. Among, but not limited to, these friends are, Ken & Becky, Jake & Robin, Papa Bean, Jenny, Craig & Lori, Stewart & Janet, Eytan, Jim C, Laura & Shawn, Art and many, many more.
Those wishing to make a donation to the family or send condolences may do so by contacting the family's Casualty Officer, Sgt 1st Class Ronald Mays at March Air Reserve Base at 951-656-2011.
Services were held at 1100 on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Evans-Brown Mortuary in Sun City, California.
Eric was laid to his final rest in the Riverside Veterans Cemetery next to a sapling tree. There are those in life whose mere existence makes our own better in ways that we cannot quantify or point to. It is not any specific thing they did, but merely the act of being themselves that was the gift they gave us. We know it, deeply and painfully when they are gone. Eric M. Holke was one of those rare souls. The hole in our lives his death has caused will never be completely filled, for only he would fit there.
From those that loved him:
"I knew of Eric through the A/V Department at Rim High. He was a wonderful person. He will always be missed. The last time I saw him was when I was working in a class for the Riverside County Office of Education. He was wonderful with the kids. He will Rest In Peace forever. I also want to encourage everyone to continue to pray for all those still over there in Iraq." ~~~ Allen
"Eric was one of my very best friends. To those that knew him best he was "Gunter". There were few men in the world with a bigger heart or a stronger loyalty for his friends. We miss you Gunnitar." ~~~ Kendra
"I met Holke for the first time in Camp Shelby, MS in March 2007 when we were first mobilizing to go to Iraq. He was always around people and was a good leader by taking care of the people around him. He didn't complain, he just got his mission, and got it done. He was a dependable guy, and was someone you could confide in. When I got the radio traffic of what had occured on the road in Tallil, my heart sank. We felt that loss instantly, since it was our first day of operations in Iraq and our first fatality. It was an instant "wake up" call for all of us . I keep his picture near me at work to remind myself of who i'm REALLY working for, my fellow soldiers and brothers in arms." ~~~ Jimmy Rebossio
Please visit Eric's pages on:
MySpace
FaceBook
Rim of the World Blue Star Moms Memoriam page
and Legacy's online guestbook.
Eric had served two previous tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Eric had been discharged after his second tour due to an injury he had received after returning from Iraq. Eric dedicated himself to get medically cleared to reenlist again in the California National Guard. He insisted that he needed to provide a good life for his new family and to serve his country. Eric was called up in December of 2006 to serve his country once again in Iraq.
While traveling in Iraq, his Humvee swerved to avoid hitting an Iraqi and the vehicle overturning, killing Eric. He is survived by his wife Cassidhe and son Steven, a very large family which includes but is not limited to; His Parents Jack Holke and Nancy Holscher, his sister Erin, his Grandmother Maggie, Uncle Chris and Aunt Monika Holke, their children Shaun and Sabrina and their spouses, Aunt Karen and Uncle Ron Hart and their children Danny and Jeremy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Debbie Holke and their children Ryan, Tyler and Jacob, along with the other family members of the Holke/Hart Clan.
In addition, he is remembered by a circle of friends whose size and devotion speak to the positive and lasting impact he has made in a life so short. Among, but not limited to, these friends are, Ken & Becky, Jake & Robin, Papa Bean, Jenny, Craig & Lori, Stewart & Janet, Eytan, Jim C, Laura & Shawn, Art and many, many more.
Those wishing to make a donation to the family or send condolences may do so by contacting the family's Casualty Officer, Sgt 1st Class Ronald Mays at March Air Reserve Base at 951-656-2011.
Services were held at 1100 on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Evans-Brown Mortuary in Sun City, California.
Eric was laid to his final rest in the Riverside Veterans Cemetery next to a sapling tree. There are those in life whose mere existence makes our own better in ways that we cannot quantify or point to. It is not any specific thing they did, but merely the act of being themselves that was the gift they gave us. We know it, deeply and painfully when they are gone. Eric M. Holke was one of those rare souls. The hole in our lives his death has caused will never be completely filled, for only he would fit there.
From those that loved him:
"I knew of Eric through the A/V Department at Rim High. He was a wonderful person. He will always be missed. The last time I saw him was when I was working in a class for the Riverside County Office of Education. He was wonderful with the kids. He will Rest In Peace forever. I also want to encourage everyone to continue to pray for all those still over there in Iraq." ~~~ Allen
"Eric was one of my very best friends. To those that knew him best he was "Gunter". There were few men in the world with a bigger heart or a stronger loyalty for his friends. We miss you Gunnitar." ~~~ Kendra
"I met Holke for the first time in Camp Shelby, MS in March 2007 when we were first mobilizing to go to Iraq. He was always around people and was a good leader by taking care of the people around him. He didn't complain, he just got his mission, and got it done. He was a dependable guy, and was someone you could confide in. When I got the radio traffic of what had occured on the road in Tallil, my heart sank. We felt that loss instantly, since it was our first day of operations in Iraq and our first fatality. It was an instant "wake up" call for all of us . I keep his picture near me at work to remind myself of who i'm REALLY working for, my fellow soldiers and brothers in arms." ~~~ Jimmy Rebossio
Please visit Eric's pages on:
MySpace
Rim of the World Blue Star Moms Memoriam page
and Legacy's online guestbook.
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